STUDY RECOMMENDS END OF MULTI-SPORT USE AT RIVERFRONT

K.C.-based stadium architecture firm, HOK Sport, unveiled
its Riverfront Stadium renovation study yesterday. One option
reconfigures the baseball field to place home plate in the
outfield, build "unsymmetrical" outfield walls, 40 luxury boxes,
and possibly shrink the stadium capacity from 55,000 to 45,000 in
order to offer "made-for-TV panoramic views" of the city skyline,
a picnic section, permanent dugouts, and a stadium club that
resembles the one at Cleveland's Jacobs Field. HOK's football
plan suggests lowering the field and adding more seats, including
23 enclosed luxury suites and 2,500 clubs seats available for a
$1,500 "down payment." Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls said the
two plans can be chosen according to the "concept which is more
financially acceptable to the teams." The study was paid for by
Reds CEO and owner Marge Schott and her advisers, attorney Stan
Chesley and Turfway Park owner Jerry Carroll (Richard Green,
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/13).
THEIR NEW KENTUCKY HOME? In a related column, Mark Purdy
calls the study an important time- and money-saving piece for the
city's stadium task force even if, as Stan Chesley said at
yesterday's presentation, none of the individuals involved are
"in the position to buy the stadium." Purdy suggests the city
decide "as regional public policy" that Riverfront will be
remodeled for either the Reds or Bengals and a new stadium will
be built for the team not chosen. Purdy notes a cheaper option
is to build a new stadium in KY near Turfway Park for the team
moving out of Riverfront (Mark Purdy, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/13).